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“Yeah, baby?”
He takes a deep breath, nuzzles into my chest and says, “I love you too.”
Chapter 15
Damon
It’ssofreeingtofinally decide that I’m done with my family. I’ve checked in with James every day like he told me, but more and more, I’m seeing that I hate him. He’s a bully. He’s an asshole, and I can’t wait to be free of him. I’ll put up the pretenses and pretend to be broken and messed up when I’m there for the next few months, but I know Michael will be waiting for me. The man I fell in love with.
Then, when I have my hands on that passport, I’ll leave and not look back. I’m so ready to start over somewhere new with people who actually care about me.
I’m not magically fixed after just a week of my man telling me how smart and nice and handsome I am. I know I have a lot of work to do on myself to undo the years of torment and ridicule I went through, but I have Michael at my side, and he’ll do what he can to help me. And I need help. I want to be stronger. For myself, so I can go forward in the world the man I want to be.
“Damon!”I hear shouted at me through the phone. I fight to keep the scowl off my face, but it’s a near thing. I didn’t think I would get this fed up as soon as I decided I didn’t want to be there, but here we are. Even though I’m irritated, I still jump at his shout. He smiles and I know it’s because he enjoys scaring me.
How did I not notice that for all these years? I mean, I knew Conrad enjoyed it because he’s a crazy man, but I didn’t think James cared either way. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“Yes? Sorry. I … sorry.”
“Fucking idiot. Can’t even pay attention to a simple conversation,” he scoffs, and I get that familiar feeling in my gut that eats at me when any of those three talk down to me. I fight it, I really do, but it settles there and my eyes well up. Not from him saying I’m an idiot, but because I didn’t think it would affect me.
“I’ll be home in a few days,” I mutter, changing the conversation so I can figure out why two words break me down.
“Good. That cleaner you hired will come by every day this week since you left us high and dry. I told them to charge your card since you paid for it last week.”
My stomach plummets. I have the money from the casino, but I didn’t deposit it into my account. My car payment and insurance haven’t cleared yet, so if they aren’t already paid, they’ll either be sent back, or my account will be overdrawn. I haven’t ever missed a car payment and don’t want that ding on my credit.
Why couldn’t he just pay for it himself? I did my part. I got the service to come by and clean up after three grown ass men, two of whom don’t have jobs and should be able to clean up on their own. And all I could afford were those few days. My car payments take time to process with my bank and I thought I gave myself that time.
James and his lazy sons.
Michael walks in from his own phone call and hears what James says. I shake my head imperceptibly when I see how his jaw clenches. We need to plan my escape. Michael flying off the handle and maybe cursing James out right now is not a good plan. At least I don’t think so.
Sighing, I pull a braid over my shoulder and play with the end. “Okay.”
“The lawyer will be by next week with the paperwork so you can sign over the deed. Your mother’s will is ironclad and won’t allow me rights to this house, even though I was her fucking husband.”
My head snaps back with how he’s blaming my mother for trying to take care of me. I’m her only child. Why wouldn’t she leave me the house I grew up in? The one she worked her ass off to buy, sometimes back-to-back flights so she could own her home. Why should he, the man that only spent eight months as her husband, be entitled to what is rightfully mine and my mother’s?
Instead of answering, I just nod. My head is reeling with what he said. It reinforces that it’s time for me to go. I’ll have to get my own lawyer to stop this. Or sell the house and take the money that is mine. Or kick them out and live how my mother wanted me to.
No, I can’t kick them out and stay there. I want to be with Michael. I want to be where he is. Where my best friend is. Where there might be a family that actually loves me and wants me around. A family that won’t talk down to me, beat me, or disrespect me. I don’t want to be in California. I want to be in Canada.
“As soon as you sign the papers, we can find a realtor. If things go well, we can sell quickly. Or, if my other plan works out, you’ll just transfer the deed over to me. I’m already paying the bills. It’s basically my house anyway.”
Again, I just nod.
James says nothing more, just hangs up. I flop back on the couch and toss my phone on the coffee table. Michael sits beside me and grabs my hand, rubbing it gently.
“You okay?” he asks, gently turning my chin to look at him.
Instead of my usual nod, I shake my head no. “He’s … so awful,” is all I manage to say. There are so many more words I want to say, but no sentence is coming together to describe just how awful he is.
“I know you’ve just had a terrible conversation, but I need to tell you something. I just got off the phone with Quin. Have I told you what he does?”
“No. Just that he does security with you.”
He nods and folds one leg under him so he can face me. “He does cyber security. He’s also the best hacker I’ve ever met. He can find anything digital and most things that aren’t. And he found something. About you and your mom.”
